Radiographic unit



Nov. 7, 1950 H. F. KAISER RADIOGRAPHIC UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1948 INVENTOR. H ERMAN F. KAISER ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1950 H. F. KAISER 2,528,521

RADIOGRAPHIC UNIT Filed New. 12, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1950 H. F. KAISER 2,528,521

RADIOGRAPHIC UNIT Filed Nov. 12, 1948 5 Sheets$heet 5 ILEE L c U ,8

l9 E P D l P' -{souRcE OF I 4 RADlATION L I RANGE OF PIVOT POINTS INVENTOR. HERMAN F. KAISER ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to the examining and testing of opaque objects and more particularly to radiographic testing systems having means for eliminating blurring and inaccuracies due to secondary or scattered radiation.

Radiographic testing systems for the examination of opaque objects as to density, and

presence and size of flaws or impurities by passing penetrating radiation such as X-ray, gamma-ray, or corpuscular radiation through the object and detecting the emergent radiation by means of an ionization chamber or Geiger- Mueller counting tube and suitable measuring circuits, or by a radiographic recording cassette, are well known. However, such systems, particularly those producing a radiographic image of the test object in a recording cassette, are subject to irregular measurement and faulty image recording due to scattering of the radiation beam and to secondary radiation from particles making up the test object. Since these systems rely primarily on the point by point detection of radiation transmitted through portions of the test object aligned with the source of radiation and progressive points on the plane of the detector, the scattered or secondary radiation, directed at an angle to the direction of propagation of the primary radiation beam, will produce, at the point at which they encounter the detector, radiation intensities other than those obtaining due to the primary emergent radiation alone.

a The practice of recording the emergent radiation on a photographic recording surface is,

preferred, in the examination of small objects for impurities of flaws, to measuring the variations in emergent radiation intensity with a Geiger-Mueller counting tube or ionization chamber, due to the fact. that the former method produces a picture of the object from which .is somewhat slower than with counter tubes since the response'of the recording surface to the radiation to produce a satisfactory image is slower, and requires that the beam be scanned over the object at a comparatively slow rate of scanning.

due to scattered and secondary radiation. I Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified radiographic inspection device. f g Another object of the invention is to provide ,a device for rapidly inspecting' and scanning an opaque test object and recording a radiographicimage of the test object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a radiographic inspection device in which a beam of radiation of small cross section is progressively scanned over the total area of a test object.

In accordance with the invention, it is proposed to eliminate scattering and secondary radiation and to provide for the rapid and accurate scanning of objects opaque to light in order to produce an accurate radiographic image of the object, by forming penetrating radiation from a standard radiation source into a collimated beam whosedirectional axis is substantially perpendicular to the incident surface of the test object, sweeping the incident beam across the test object through successive parallel planes so as to scan the beam point by point throughout the entire volume of the test object, detecting the emergent radiation by a radiation sensitive device, and producing a permanent radiographic image of the object. The means forming the radiation emitted from the source into a small cross section collimated beam permit only the primary rays of radiation to pass therethrough.

This means is placed on both sides of the test object so as to transmit only the primary rays of the incident and emergent radiation, thus rejecting all secondary and scattered radiation originating in the test object.

,To provide for the rapid production of a radiographic density image of the test object, a Geiger-Mueller counting tube or equivalent detecting means ispositioned to be moved with the collimated beam so as to always be in a position to intercept the emergent radiation from the objects and generate electrical impulses on reception of rays of emergent radiation.

Well known or conventional light generating means are electrically coupled to the output of the counter tube to vary the light output intensity as a function of the intensity of received or detected emergent radiation, and conventional scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation, of the radiographic inspection device showing the relative position of elements near the beginning of a radiographic examination of anobJ'ect; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the radiographic inspection device showing the members at the center point of an oscillatory sweep;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation,- similar to the view shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, of the center correction means by Which-the series of beam-defining slits are axially aligned with the sou cc of penetrating radiation;

Fig.4isafront view of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram depicting geometrically the positioned relationship between the beam-defining slits and the source of radiation. from which the proper center correction can be calculated.

Fig. 6 is a detail section ofthe detecting and light generating means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the front and side viewrespectively, of the radiographic device, a conventional tube head ll supporting, an X-ray tube or other conventional source of penetrating radiation is mountedto tion.

This detector means 32 comprises a Geiger- Muellerzcounter tube or' ionization: chamber of conventional-type. Such ionization chambers or Geiger-Mueller tubes are adapted, when penetrating radiation of predetermined radiation characteristics is received thereby, to generate a pulse of electrical current whose amplitude is proportional to the amplitude of received radia- The. electrical current thus generated is coupled to conventional amplifier means, not shown, to generate an electrical current of predetermined amplitude variations proportional to permit rotation about the axis ilil, passing approximately through the surface on which is lo- I cated the point-source of said radiation, by

means of support-members l2 and I3 extending from each side thereof into fixed-support members i l andlf. Ideally, the axis. should pass through the target-source, but since the radia.- tion propagates in all directions this is not a necessary condition for operation. In. this embodiment, the radiation is generated in the form of a conical beam directed at substantially right 21 respectively, carried. by a carriage or frame member 23 secured to the tube head" H;

The test object 22 is adapted to 'be supported independently'of the carriage 28, by means of a supporting plate 29 and externally projecting rod support members 38 and j 31k. and fixed support means (not shown).- Thus the small'cross-section, collimated beam of radiation. l8may be angularly swept about the axis ll-0 through aportion of the volumeoccupied by the test object a The rays. emanating from the target LE; are

first limited in angle within the.tu be;-head: by plate 25 carrying the slit [9 to' substantially lessen the circular. cross-section of. the. conical beam of radiation emanating from the target 16. The beam of radiation. then passes through slits 2E! and 2i in slit-defining plates 25-and 26, respectively, to further limit the cross-sectionof :the'beam of radiation, the slits 20. and-2i being kept in line with apoint on the target 22 bya mechanism to be later described. After passage through the beam-defining slit 2|, the beam of radiation passes through the test object 22 in the form of a beam of small-circular or rectangular cross-section depending on the configuration of the slit 2 i. The emergent radiation from the test object 22 then enters a limiting slit 23'which blocks oif radiation entering at any considerable angle to the main primary beam of radiation, and is passed to a radiation sensitive detector means now described.

the amplitude of the current generated by detector tube 32. This amplified output is coupledto an illuminatingmeans.33 .(Fig. 6) such as. an electric. lamp to. generate,'through an im-. age forming. lens; system, 3.4,, a beam of".,light. whose intensity is.proportionalto, or variesin a desired way with,,tl'ie-inten'sity of-received radiation in the detector tube 32; The detector tube 32, 1ig ht..33 and objectivelenssystem 3t"'are.all carried in. a unitary. structure 3'5. mounted on .the

slit-formingmemb'erfl as shown inthe cutaway detail section view inilig. 6'. The upper portion of the unitary structure te' housing the detector tube. 32. protects the. detector. tube from stray radiation approaching thetube fromipoints other thanthrOughJth'e. slit. 23, Whilethe lowerlpore tion of the unitary hoiisingmember 35'1is formed into a light-tight. chamber, in whichtthe' lamp 33 and objective.lensjsysternd.are positioned to focus. a narrow. beam of lightcoaxial withthe beam of radiation 88 onto a photographicrecording surface held in a stationary holder 38 fixed relative to the position of the object 22'. The entire photographic imageeforming, assembly is enclosed. within a light tight' bjellowsim'ember 31 to prevent light originatingfrom any source other than the-lamp 33 from impinging on the photographic recordingsurface. w

To permit the' beam of radiation- L8 to be scanned over the'entire'surfaceof the-test object 22 to generate a photographicimage of the en'- tire object,the slit system'comprising slits 20', 2| and 23 and thus the'beam of radiation-defined thereby, is swept successively across :the i-surface of the test object 22 through laterally-spaced parallel planes so that, by coordination. of the oscillatory-sweeping :motioniof' carriage 28 about the axis fi0 and the stepwisei lateral motioniof the slit sys'tem' atr'ight' .an'glesuto the. plane of sweeping, thebeam will; ultimately: scan the entire test object line.2by.=liner:.- f

Means a 4011s provided ito'ioscillate. the frame-"28 about thes'axi's ll:-'-ll defined bygthe: trunnions; 1-2 and 13. and supportimembersaldiand 15;; ,This "means causes: the narrowa beam: of radiation. l8 to": be swept back; and: forth across the .:incident surface" ofv the-test.,obiect;2:2-. soas; tof'scan the object iii-lines; This: reciprocating. mechanism #0 ,comprises a'. continuously driving motor 4! coupled-through. mechanical couplingtlfto, a driving cam'43 whichltransmits oscillatory. mo.- tion determined-by the cutof the'cam surface through a shaft 44 held against the canisurface ;byspring 45:to thecarriage 23. Thecamisurface is socut as. to cause'thebeam of radiation to sweep. across the testobject 22- at a speedlvarying in such a way astoinsure uniformexposure of the detector tube. 32. to the emergent radiation from the testlobject :22 Electricalf contacts at and 41, such as micro-switches, are-.mounted onthe motordriveuunitfiflto-be. engaged by a tripping member Alkfiked y carried "on the shaft 44 to serve as switching means by which driving -graphic recording surface.

means below described are energized at each extremity of the oscillation of the carriage 28 to move the slit system in step by step fashion in a direction perpendicular to the plane of oscillation. The micro-switches 46 and 41 are coupled in series in the energizing circuit of a driver metor 49 mechanically coupled to the slit-forming members 26 and 2'! to drive the slit-forming members a predetermined amount when said micro-switches 46 and 41 are energized and thereby to shift, at the extremity of each oscillation, the position of the slits and of the beam formed thereby, transversely relative to the scanning plane generated by oscillation of the carriage 28. 1-?

The slit-forming blocks 26 and 2'! are threaded on lead screws 59 and 53 respectively. Block 21 is driven axially along lead screw 53 as said screw is rotated by motor 49 through shaft 60 and gearing means 5| and 52. The'slit-forming block-126 is driven transversely in predetermined positional-relationship with the slit-forming block 2'! by means of bevel gears 54 and 55, a shaft' 56 coupled to bevel gear 55, bevel gears'51 and 58, and lead screw 59 which is fixed to the bevel gear 58.

Since the physical characteristics of radiographic devices will often not permit the beamdefining means, such as assembly of slits 20, 2| and 23, to be pivotally supported on an axis passing through the source of radiation I6, center correction means are required to permit the series of slits to be pivoted on an axis removed from the source of radiation and to maintain the slit axially aligned with the source of radiation l6. In describing the details of the center correction means, reference will be had to Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 3 and'4, the slit 20 in the slit-defining block 25 is mounted together with the slit 2| in the slit-defining block 26 on an arm 60 pivoted to the block 25 and free at its upper end. Since it may be impossible to maintain a mechanical pivot at the radiation source, arm 60 (and thereby the slit axis) is maintained with its axis pointed toward the source by a mechanism to be described below. The principle and operation of the alignment adjustor mechanism may-be understood more clearly by reference to the Fig. 5 in view of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 5 shows the conditions to be met. Point D is the radiation source (corresponding substantially to slit l9).

Point C corresponds to slit' 2|, point P to the mechanical pivot point 64 around 'Which'arm 63 is rotated, point F the hypothetical effective position of 64 in order to have the slits axially aligned when the beam is sweeping one of the extremities of the test object 22, and point E corresponds to the center point of the photo- R is the unaligned axis of the slit centers of arm 60. Slit 2| is moved along the line EC normal to ED, a line from the mid-point of the lateral travel path to the target at D. On line CFD (the aligned axis of arm 66) are located the slits 2| and 29 when conditions for sweeping an extremity of the object are satisfied. Thus it is seen that for the :conditions to be satisfied there must be provided means for maintaining point P (F) in the slit line between points D and C, such as by a moving pivot point at 64 or means for aligning the slits with point F independently of arm 63. In the embodiment shown the latter means are em- "ployed. An alternative-methodof maintaining alignment of the slits is to mechanically couple the upper slit 20 to driving means 49, similarly to the coupling of slits 2| and 23. g

Consideration of the triangle CDP Will show that sin a sin ,8

To compute the necessary displacement PF normal to GP, the following relationship obtains;

R sin B V l sin 8 Since sin {3 is obtained from Equation 2, M may be computed. The displacement M may be brought about by means of an extension of the free end of radius rod 60, which is adapted to be engaged by a cam having a surface radiusor angle function given by Equations 2and 3 combined. a

Figs. 3 and 4 show a preferred embodimentlof alignment adjustment means employed. A gear 6| of semi-circular configuration is mounted by means of pin and slot connection 62 to frame 29. An arm 63 is pivoted to the point 64 on the gear 6| and at its other end to the slit-defining'block 26 to provide the radius axis about which the slit-defining system is rotated to attain-alignment as described above. Mountedona pivot-pin 65 carried by the arm 63 is a gear 66 adapted to engage the peripheral face of the gear BI, and a cam 61, both the gear 66 and the cam 61 being keyed to the pivot pin 65 torotate in unison. Extension member 68 at the free end of the arm 60 is positioned to ride on the surface of the cam 6'! to shift the axis of the arm 68 carrying the slit-defining blocks 25 and 26 relative to the axis of the radius rod 63 as a function of the angular orientation of the radius rod 63 and thus maintainthe axis of the slits 20 and 2| aligned with the-source of radiation. The radius-versus angle function of the cam surfaceof the camefil is determined by Equations 2 and 3 'abovementioned to maintain the axis of the radius rod 60 properly aligned. With proper choice of gears GI and '66,'the angular variations of slits 2| can be made any desired multiples of the angle M=-R tan 5= =Rf( through which the radius arm 63 isfmoved about the pivot point 64. The extension 68'riding'on the surface of the cam 61-is constrained against the cam surface either by a spring or-a track -(not shown) ,at the edge of the cam 61. The displacement of the arm 60 in--both' directions relative to the axis of the radius rod 63 is secured 85 by placing the starting point'in'the middle of the camsurface 61. Pr By the above defined means, thebeam of penetrating radiation of small cross-section is swept across the incident surface of the test-object- H parallel to" one axis of the surface of the object by means of the reciprocating mechanism 40, while energization of the motor 49 through contacts 46 and ll'atv the extremities of each sweep of the beam in the above mentioned plane causes 7 the beam to shift laterally in a direction normal the axis" swept by; the. reciprocatmg'. mechai-- Various modifications may be made in the-:inI-r vention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, andit isdesired, therefore, that only such limitations shallbe placed thereon as are-imposed by the prior art and areset forth intheappendedclaims; f 'Iheinvention describedherein may be 'm'anue facturedland used. by or for the Government-of. theUnited States of America for governmental purposes without the paymentof any royalty thereon or therefor.

, What is claimedis:

1. A radiographic. device for examining test objects comprising, a pair of support means having.;a common. axis, a source of penetratingra diation: disposed ontheplane of said axis and in penetrating relation with a test object, a plurality of axially aligned beam-forming means in pivotal relation with the axis of said support means, means in motion-imparting relation with said beamforming means for imparting oscillatory pivoting, motion to said beam-forming means, and-detector means sensitive to emergent radiation,..from:saidttest object. 7

2. A- radiographic device for-examining test objects comprisingiapair of support'meanshav ing a common axis, a source of penetrating radiation disposed substantially on-said axis and in penetrating relationship with a test object aplurality of axially aligned beam-forming aperture means-in pivotal relation with axis of said sup; port means and; in axially intersecting relationship with saidtest object, means in motion-im parting relation with said beamformingv means for'imparting oscillatory; pivoting motion to said aperture means, detector means sensitive to ,said radiation mounted on the aperture means fur.- thermost from saidsource and-disposed onaxisof saidppluralitya. light-generating means in rigid mechanical relation and in operatively responsive relation-to said detector means, and lightsensitive recording means in fixed static relation to. said testobject and exclusively-exposed to light. from said light-generating means.

3. Apparatus for the radiographic examination of test objects comprising,- a pair of support means having a: common axis, a source; of penetrating radiation disposed between said;. support means substantiallyaon the axis thereof andin penetrating relation with a test object,. an arm' member in pivotal relationship to said support means,,a-plurality-of axially aligned collimating means mounted on said arm member and dis' posed on a propagational axis of said radiation "incident upon and emergent from. said test object, reciprocating motion-imparting means oscillating said arm member about saidsupport axis; andradiation'sensitive' detectonmeans disposed in the path of radiation emergent from saidstestobject. V a

4; Apparatusfor. the radiographic examination of test objects comprising, a pair of supportmeans having a common axis, a source of penetrating, radiation disposed 'between said sup- .port means substantially on the axis thereof, andin' penetrating relation toa'test object, an

'armmember in pendant relationship to-said support means, a plurality of axially aligned collimating means mounted on said arm -member rand-disposed on a propagational {axisi of said :gxadiation 'incident upon andemergent from said test object; reciprocating. motion-imparting; means oscillating said arm member aboutsaid support axis, detector, means sensitive to said. radiation mounted on the: aperture meansfur thermostsfrom said sourceeand disposed on axis ofsaid plurality, light-generating means in rigidmechanical relation and. in operatively responsive' relation to said detector, means, and lightsensitive recording; means in fixed staticrelation to said'testobject and exclusively exposed to light from said light-generating means.

, 6. A device for rapid photographic recording of a radiographic image of a test object com.- prising, a source of penetrating radiation in penetrating relationship to a test object,, detector. meanssensitive tosaid radiation disposedinthe path of radiation emergent from said test object and movable throughout the area of saidpath about a point located substantially a-tsaid source; light-generating means mounted in fixed coaxial alignment with said source and said detector means and in operatively responsive relationship with said detector means, focusing means in focusing relationship. with incident light from said light-generating means, and photographic means statically located in the path of: said emergent radiation but exposed" exclusively to focused light from said light-generating means.

.16. A device for theradiographic examination of test objects comprising, apair of trunnion support means, a source of penetrating radiation fixedlydisposedbetween said support means sub stantially on the axis thereof and:in; penetrating relation with a test object, a carriage-member in oscillatory pendant relation to said support means, an arm member pivotally mounted on said carriage. member, a plurality of axially aligned upper collimating means mounted on said arm member and in'collimating relation toradiation from said source incident uponsaid test object, lower collimating means variably mountedon said carriage member and disposed to. collimate radiation emergent from saidtest'obj'ect, detector means-sensitive to. radiation from'said source rigidly mountedon said lower collimating means and axially aligned with said upper and lower collimatingxmeans, light-generating means, photographic recording means in fixed static relationship to saidtest obiectand exposedexclusively to light from said focusingmeans, mo;- tion-imparting means: indriving relationship with said pendant carriage member to oscillate said member about said trunnion. axis, transverse motion-imparting means rigidly mounted on said carriage member and pivotally driving said upper collimating means arm'member about its pivotal mounting pointand synchronously driving said lower collimating means transversely to the direction of carriage oscillation, center correction means modifying the transverse pivotal motion of said upper collimatingmeans to main- REFERENCES orran The followingreferences-are of record in the file of this patentf I ,7 UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 2,347,638 McLachlan, Jr. Apr. 25,1944

- 2,370,163 Hare Feb. 27,1945 

